Using Diluted Wine or Grape Juice for Kiddush

May I use wine or grape juice that I dilute with water for kiddush?

Regarding dilution of wine with water, Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 204:5) writes that we must assess each wine based on the common practice in each location for how much is usually added. The Mechaber 204:5 tells us that our wines today are not considered strong. It therefore stands to reason that since the wines that we drink today are never diluted with water, since they are not strong, one should add only a minimal amount of water. This is permitted since it does not change the taste of the wine, but one should not add an amount of water to the wine or grape juice that will alter their taste. However, one may dilute wine with grape juice. Some have a minhag to add a few drops of water to their Kiddush wine which is permitted based on the above.

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt”l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.